Cleaning tool for photographing device

ABSTRACT

A cleaning tool to remove foreign matter from a light receiving surface of an imaging device in a photographing device includes a body, a planar member, and a connecting member. The body extends in a longitudinal direction thereof. The planar member is provided at the end of the longitudinal direction, and has an adhesive surface to adhere to the foreign matter, a first edge, and a second edge that is at the opposite side of the first edge. The connecting member connects the body and the planar member, and the connecting member causes one of the first edge or the second edge of the planar member that is contact with the light receiving surface to detach from the light receiving surface earlier than the other, by an operation of the body, so that said foreign matter adheres to said adhesive surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cleaning tool, especially to a cleaning tool to remove foreign matter attached to an imaging device or other components in a photographing device, such as a digital camera.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, the number of digital cameras with interchangeable lenses has been increasing. In a digital camera with interchangeable lenses, foreign matter, such as dust which enters into it when a lens is changed, may attach to a surface of an imaging device inside the digital camera.

Therefore, a tool for removing foreign matter from the imaging device, by pressing an adhesive surface onto the surface of an imaging device with a suitable force, and then detaching the entire area of the adhesive surface from the surface of the~imaging device at once, has been known.

In a cleaning operation using such a tool, when the entire area of the adhesive surface is detached from the surface of the imaging device at once, foreign matter that is lightly attached to the adhesive surface may remain on the surface of the imaging device, so that cleaning the imaging device may fail. Thus, for efficient cleaning, if the adhesiveness of the adhesive surface is strengthened, the required force to remove the cleaning tool from the imaging device becomes greater, so that the operability of the tool is lowered. Further, in such a case, the tool to which the greater force is applied may cause damage to the imaging device by scarring it or by causing other damage, or it may hit and possibly damage components other than the imaging device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning tool that can remove foreign matter from a surface of an imaging device reliably, by contact with the surface.

A first cleaning tool, according to the present invention, removes foreign matter from a light receiving surface of an imaging device in a photographing device. The first cleaning tool includes a body, a planar member, and a connecting member. The body extends in a longitudinal direction thereof. The planar member is provided at the end of the longitudinal direction and has an adhesive surface to adhere to the foreign matter, a first edge, and a second edge that is at the opposite side of the first edge. The connecting member connects the body and the planar member, and the connecting member causes one of the first edge or the second edge of the planar member that is in contact with the light receiving surface to detach from the light receiving surface prior to the other, by an operation of the body, so that said foreign matter adheres to said adhesive surface.

A second cleaning tool, according to the present invention, removes foreign matter from a plane to be cleaned. The second cleaning tool includes a body, a planar member, and a connecting member. The body extends in a longitudinal direction thereof. The planar member is provided at the end of the longitudinal direction and has an adhesive surface to adhere to the foreign matter, a first edge, and a second edge that is at the opposite side of the first edge. The connecting member connects the body and the planar member, and the connecting member causes one of the first edge or the second edge of the planar member that is in contact with the subject plane to detach from the subject plane prior to the other, by an operation of the body, so that said foreign matter adheres to said adhesive surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood from the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention set forth below together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool of a first embodiment seen from a front angle;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning tool of the first embodiment seen from a rear angle;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the cleaning tool in contact with a digital camera;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool of a second embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the cleaning tool of the second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool of a third embodiment, where a planar member is not pressed;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cleaning tool of the third embodiment, where the planar member is pressed; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the cleaning tool of the third embodiment/ where the planar member is pressed,

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the attached drawings.

In the first embodiment, a cleaning tool 10 is used for cleaning an imaging device unit or other devices (not shown) by removing foreign matter, such as dust, attached to a light receiving surface thereof in a digital camera (not shown) in which light enters. That is, the cleaning tool 10 is used for cleaning the light receiving surfaces of an imaging device, a low-pass filer, a protection filter, or so on (all is not shown). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cleaning tool 10 has a body 20 that extends in a longitudinal direction thereof, a planar member 12 that has a rectangular shape and is provided at one of the longitudinal end of the body 20, and a connecting member 14 that connects the body 20 and the planar member 12.

The planar member 12 includes a flat plate 13 that is a thin plate, and that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in which the body 20 extends, and an adhesive sheet 15 provided on the flat plate 13 for adhering to foreign matter. A user holds the body 20 to bring the cleaning tool 10 close to a surface of an imaging device or other subject surface, for cleaning, then brings the adhesive sheet 15 into contact with the subject surface. After that, the adhesive sheet 15 is detached from the subject surface by moving the held body 20 away from the imaging device, so that the foreign matter on the subject surface is attached to the adhesive sheet 15 and removed from the subject surface. The adhesive sheet 15 can be brought into contact with the light receiving surface as a subject of cleaning, because the adhesive sheet 15 is provided on the flat plate 13. When the adhesive sheet 15 loses enough adhesive due to much usage, it is peeled off from the flat plate 13 and disposed of, then, a new adhesive sheet 15 is attached to the flat plate 13 for further usage of the cleaning tool 10.

The flat plate 13, for example, is made of metal, so that the flat plate 13 is harder and has more strength than the flat plate 13 made of a thin rubber layer and other materials. The flat plate 13 enables the soft adhesive sheet 15 to be distributed in contact evenly over a subject surface of cleaning, such as a light receiving surface of an imaging device. Further, as explained below, the flat plate 13 prevents deformation of the adhesive sheet 15, even though the flat plate 13 is placed an angle while the adhesive sheet 15 is being detached, so that it also prevents foreign matter once attached to the adhesive sheet 15 from being returned to the subject surface of cleaning.

The body 20 extends perpendicularly from the planar member 12, the width 12W of the planar member 12 is almost identical to the length of a first long side 12U and a second long side 12D which are outlines of the planar member 12, and the thickness 20T of the body 20 is much lesser than the length of a short side of the outline of the planar member 12. The connecting member 14 includes a first connecting member 16 and a second connecting member 18. The first connecting member 16 connects an end 20E of the body 20, which is the planar member 12 side end of the body 20, to the first long side 12U, which is the upper side end of the planar member 12. The end of the second connecting member 1HE touches the end 20E, does not connect to the end 20E, and connects to the second long side 12D, which is the lower side end of the planar member 12.

The width and thickness of the first and second connecting members 16 and 18 are identical to the width 20W and the thickness 20T, respectively. Note that over the other end of the body 20 opposite one end 20E, a ribbed area 20R is provided for a user to hold the body 20 tightly. The body 20 is made of a plastic, and has a suitable elasticity.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body 20 and the first connecting member 16 are formed as a single unit. On the other hand, between the end 20E of the body 20 and an end 18E of the second connecting member 18, a gap is provided. Both the first and the second connecting members 16 and 18 have an identical boomerang shape.

That is, the first and second connecting members 16 and 18 extend in oblique directions from the body 20 on their sides of the end 20E and the end 18E, respectively, and extend in parallel directions to the body 20 on their planar member 12 sides, that is, extend in perpendicular directions from the planar member 12 on their planar member 12 sides. The first connecting member 16 and the second connecting member 18 are symmetric about a plane that runs through the center of the body 20, and that extends in the longitudinal direction of the body 20.

The connecting member 14 includes a first rib 22 provided around the end 20E of the body 20. The first rib 22 is formed as a single unit with the second connecting member 18, and extends from an inner surface 18I of the second connecting member 18. One of the end surfaces of the first rib 22 in contact with an inside surface 16I of the first connecting member 16. The first rib 22 has a shape symmetric about a plane that runs through a border line L on the upper end of an are of contact that the inside surface 16I and the inner surface 1SI together form, and that extends in the longitudinal direction of the body 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting member 14 further includes a plate member 24 that is between the first connecting member 16 and the second connecting member 18, and that is connected to the planar member 12, covering the back surface of the planar member 12; i.e., that is provided at the opposite side of the adhesive sheet 15. On the surface of the plate member 24, a plurality of second ribs 26 are provided. The second ribs 26 extend in a vertical direction; that is, the second ribs 26 extend from the first long side 12U to the second long side 12D, or from the first connecting member 16 to the second connecting member 18,

All of the second ribs 26 have a greater thickness at their second long side 12D sides than at their first long side 12U sides. The ends of the second ribs 26 are connected to the inner surface 18I of the second connecting member 18. Note that all of the first connecting member 16, the second connecting member 18, and the plate member 24 are formed as a single unit Therefore, all members of the body 20 and the connecting member 14 are formed as a single unit.

As shown in FIG. 3, when a user holding the body 20 moves is the cleaning tool 10 close to a surface 32S of an imaging device 32 provided in a digital camera 30, as represented by the arrow A, and brings the planar member 12 into contact with the surface 32S, a force is applied to the body 20. This force applied to the body 20 is distributed over the planar member 12 evenly via both the first connecting member 16 and the second connecting member 18, because the connecting member 14 is formed as explained above. Further, when a user moves the cleaning tool 10 away from the surface 32S in a direction perpendicular to the surface 32S, as represented by the arrow B, and moves the planar member 12 away from the surface 32S, another force is applied to the body 20. The force for detaching the planar member 12 from the surface 32S is transmitted to the planar member 12 via only the first connecting member 16.

That is, a pressing force for pressing the surface 32S of the imaging device 32 applied from the body 20 when the planar member 12 is in contact with the surface 32S is distributed to the first connecting member 16 and to the second connecting member 18 evenly. The reason is that the first and second connecting members 16 and 18 are symmetric with each other, and the first rib 22 prevents the movement or transformation of the first and second connecting members 16 and 18, although only the first connecting member 16 is connected to the body 20 directly, and the second connecting member 18 is not. As a result, the planar member 12 is pressed to the surface 32S of the imaging device 32 by a force evenly distributed over the entire area of the surface 32S.

On the other hand, a pulling force for pulling the planar member 12, with foreign matter attached, as the planar member 12 adheres to the surface 32S, applied to the body 20 in a perpendicular direction to the surface 32S, is transmitted to the planar member 12 via only the first connecting member 16, without being distributed to the second connecting member 18. The reason is that the second connecting member 18 is not connected to the body 20 directly, but simply touches the end 20R of the body 20, and the first rib 22 is not connected to the first connecting member 16, but simply touches the first connecting member 16. As a result, the planar member 12 is gradually detached from the surface 32S of the imaging device 32; that is, the area of the planar member 12 that is closer to the first long side 12U is detached from the surface 32S earlier than the opposite side area, which is closer to the second long side 12D.

Because the lower region in the second rib 26 has a greater thickness (that is, a region of the second rib 26 that is closer to the second connecting member 18 is thicker than the other region closer to the first connecting member 16, as explained above), the second rib 26 contributes to the planar member 12 being gradually detached from the area of the first long side 12U prior to the area of the second long side 12D. Therefore, the second long side 12D can be reliably prevented from being detached prior to the first long side 12U of the planar member 12; similarly, both the first and second long sides 12U and 12D can be prevented from being detached simultaneously. Thus, when the planar member 12 is detached from the surface 32S at an angle, the area of the first long side 12U of the planar member 12 becomes detached prior to the area of the second long side 12D.

As a result, foreign matter is reliably removed from the surface 32S to be cleaned in this embodiment, by providing the connecting member 14 as a differential mechanism where the area of the first long side 12U of the planar member 12 is detached in advance, even though foreign matter tends to stay on the surface 32S, if the entire area of the planar member 12 is detached at once.

In the case where foreign matter is removed by detaching the planar member 12 gradually as explained above, the area of the planer member 12 which is detached slightly later, that is, the area of the second long side 12D in this embodiments cleans more effectively the surface 32S than the other area which is detached earlier, that is, the first ling side 12U. Usually, in photographs whose subjects are people or scenery, there is a blue sky in the upper area. Therefore, the color in the upper area in such photographs tends to be light and evenly distributed, especially in photographs taken under fine weather, so that spot stains caused by foreign matter on the surface 32S of the imaging device 32 in upper areas of such photographs easily stand out.

Considering this point, in this embodiment, an indication mark 16M, which indicates that the first connecting member 16 side should be placed up when using the cleaning tool 10, is provided on an outside surface 160 of the first connecting member 16. Therefore, when the cleaning tool 10 is used, the area of the second long side 12D of the planar member 12 is placed down as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, so that the area in the subject images generated by the imaging device 32 corresponding to the area of the second long side 12D of the planar member 12 is always located on the upper side.

In the first embodiment explained above, foreign matter on the surface 32S of the imaging device 32 is reliably removed, by pressing the entire area of the planar member 12 evenly over the surface 32S at once, and by detaching the planar member 12 gradually from the surface 32S, from one side of the planar member 12 to the other side. Further, because the planar member 12 is detached gradually, it is possible to detach the planar member 12 from the surface 32S of the imaging device 32 using minimal force, even if the planar member 12 adheres strongly.

Note that the first rib 22 may not be formed as a single unit with the second connecting member 18, but may simply be connected to the second connecting member 18.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention is described, mainly focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. In the second embodiment (see FIGS. 4 and 5), a planar member 12 and a body 20 of a cleaning tool 10 are formed by a thin metal plate which has a constant thickness.

In the second embodiment, the first and second ribs 22 and 26 are not provided. The reason is as follows: In the first embodiment, the connecting member 14 and the body 20 had elasticity because they were made of plastic, so that adjusting a distribution of a force applied to the body 20 by the first and second ribs 22 and 26 was possible. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, such an adjustment for a force distribution is impossible because the connecting member 14 and the body 20 are made of a thin metal plate (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

At both ends of a first plate 18B, which is a plate member on the body 20 side of the second connecting member 18, a pair of projection members 18A, which project along the first plate 18B, are provided. To arrange the projection members 18A, the width of the first connecting member 16 is shorter than the width 20W of the body 20 around the end 20E, which is the planar member 12 side of the body 20. Except for the projection members 18A and the side walls 28 that are explained below, both the first and the second connecting members 16 and 19 have almost an identical boomerang shape, and are symmetric about the flat body 20.

A force applied to the body 20, when a user holding the body 20 causes the cleaning tool 10 to move in a perpendicular direction to the surface 32S (see FIG. 3) of the imaging device 32 or other surfaces to be cleaned, as represented by the arrow A, while the planar member 12 is in contact with the imaging device, is distributed to the planar member 12 evenly via both the first connecting member 16 and the second connecting member 18. The reason is that the connecting member 14 is formed as explained above.

The connecting member 14 includes a plate member 24 that is connected to the rear surface of the planar member 12, and a pair of side walls 28. The side walls 28 extend proximally along the plate member 24 from a second plate 18C (which is in a lower side of the second connecting member 18) to the first connecting member 16. A pair of slits S between the side walls 28 and the plate member 24 are wider closer to the first long side 12U, and are narrower closer to the second long side 12D, such that as the slits S approach the second long side 12D, their width becomes negligible.

On each of the projection members 18A, a notch 18L for the first connecting member 16 to move with the body 20 when the planar member 12 is detached from the surface 32S (see FIG. 3) of the imaging device 32 is provided. Via the notches 18L, a pulling force for pulling the cleaning tool 10 away from an imaging device, applied to the body 20 when the planar member 12 is in contact with the surface 32S of the imaging device 32, is transmitted to the planar member 12 via only the first connecting member 16. The reason is that the second connecting member 18 is not connected to the body 20 directly, but, on the other hand, the first connecting member 16 is directly connected to the body 20, and the first connecting member 16 can move along the notches 18L.

Further, the side walls 28 arranged to form slits S as explained above helps the planar member 12 to be gradually detached from the surface 32S of the imaging device 32, even though the second rib 26 is not provided. That is, the side walls 28 with slits S assist an area of the planar member 12 that is closer to the first long side 12U to be detached first, and reliably prevent the second long side 12D from being detached earlier than the first long side 12U side of the planar member 12, or both sides of the first and second long sides 12U and 12D from being detached at once.

Although the cleaning tool 10 is preferably used with the area of the second long side 12D in the planar member 12 being faced down as explained above, note that no indication mark 16M indicating the vertical direction of the cleaning tool 10 is required in the second embodiment. The reason is that the projection members 18A can function together as the indication mark 16M.

The cleaning tool 10 in the second embodiment is manufactured from a single metal plate, except for the adhesive sheet 15, because the connecting member 14 and the body 20 have the same thickness. That is, the connecting member 14 and the body 20 are manufactured by cutting off a T-shaped plate from a material plate, then folding the T-shaped plate at lines between the body 20 and the first connecting member 16, at lines running through the centers of both the first connecting member 16 and the second connecting member 18, and at lines running between the second connecting member 18 and the pair of side walls 28. Further, the cleaning tool 10 is manufactured by cutting off the flat plate 13 from the same material plate as above, and connecting the flat plate 13 to the body 20, and then adhering the adhesive sheet 15 to the flat plate 13.

In the second embodiment, as explained above, the cleaning tool 10 that enables reliably removing foreign matter from the surface of an imaging device can be manufactured by a simpler method than the cleaning tool in the first embodiment

Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention is explained, mainly focusing on the differences from the aforementioned embodiments. In the third embodiment, each of a pair of first connecting members 16 and second connecting members 18 are provided (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The pair of the first connecting members 16 are connected to the left and right ends of a planar member 12, which are both ends of the first long side 12U. Similarly, the pair of the second connecting members 18 are connected to both ends of the second long side 12D. In each of the second connecting members ¹⁸, an oblong hole 36 extending along the same second connecting member 18, is provided. The body 20 includes a shaft 34 that connects the first connecting members 16 to each other through the holes 36, and that is parallel to the planar member 12.

When a user causes the planar member 12 to come into contact with the surface 32S of the imaging device 32, the shaft 34 is moved to the planar-member-side end 36E of each hole 36, so that a force applied to the body 20 for pressing the planar member 12 against the surface 32S is distributed over the planar member 12 evenly via the first connecting members 16 and the second connecting members 18 (see FIGS. 7 and 8).

Then, when a pulling force for pulling the planar member 12 as it adheres to the surface 32S, thus gradually detaching it from the surface 32S, is applied to the body 20, the shaft 34 is moved from each planar-member-side end 36E of corresponding hole 36 to the corresponding body-side end 36F.

Therefore, the pulling force applied to the body 20 for pulling the planar member 12 is not transmitted to the planar member 12 via the second connecting members 18, but is transmitted via only the first connecting members 16. Therefore, the planar member 12 is gradually detached from the surface 32S; that is, the area of the first long side 12U of the planar member 12 is detached earlier than the area of the second long side 12D side.

In the third embodiment, as explained above, the cleaning tool 10 can reliably remove foreign matter from the surface 32S of the imaging device 30. This is achieved by providing the shaft 34 as a connecting mechanism to connect the first connecting members 16 to each other, by providing holes 36 in the second connecting members 18 for the shaft 34 to pass through, and by adjusting a distribution of forces applied to the body 12 in a direction perpendicular to the surface 32S, for pressing the planar member 12 against the surface 32S, or for pulling the planar member 12 from the surface 32S, using the first and second connecting members 16 and 16.

The shape of the planar member 12, the first and second connecting members 16 and 18, and the other members are not limited to those in the aforementioned embodiments, but can be adjusted in accordance with the imaging device 32 as a subject of cleaning. For example, the shape of the planar member 12 is not limited to being rectangular, a rectangular shape is usually advantageous to cover the entire area of the surface 32S of the imaging device 32.

Finally, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description is of a preferred embodiments of the apparatus, and that various changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

The present disclosure relates to subject matters contained in Japanese Patent application No. 2005-296211 (filed on Oct. 11, 2005), which is expressly incorporated herein, by reference, in its entirety. 

1. A cleaning tool to remove foreign matter from a light receiving surface of an imaging device in a photographing device, said cleaning tool comprising: a body that extends in a longitudinal direction thereof; a planar member that is provided at the end of said longitudinal direction and that has an adhesive surface to adhere to said foreign matter, a first edge, and a second edge that is at the opposite side of said first edge; and a connecting member that connects said body and said planar member, said connecting member causing one of said first edge or said second edge of said planar member that is in contact with said light receiving surface to detach from said light receiving is surface prior to the other, by an operation of said body, so that said foreign matter adheres to said adhesive surface.
 2. The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein said adhesive surface comprises a flat plate and an adhesive sheet on said flat plate, said adhesive sheet adhering to said light receiving surface.
 3. The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein said planar member has a rectangular shape, and said first edge and said second edge are long sides of an outline of said planar member.
 4. The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein said planar member is perpendicular to said longitudinal direction.
 5. The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein said connecting member comprises a first member that connects between a planar member-side end of said body and said first edge, and a second member that is in contact with said planar member-side end of said body and that connects to said second edge, so that said connecting member causes said first edge to detach from said light receiving surface prior to said second edge.
 6. The cleaning tool according to claim 5, wherein said body and said first member are formed as a single unit.
 7. The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein said body and said connecting member are formed as a single unit.
 8. The cleaning tool according to claim 5, wherein a force applied to said body for bringing said planar member into contact with said light receiving surface is transmitted to said planar surface via said first member and said second member, and a force applied to said body for detaching said planar member from said light receiving surface is transmitted to said planar surface via only said first member.
 9. The cleaning tool according to claim 5, wherein said first member and said second member are symmetric about said body.
 10. The cleaning tool according to claim 5, wherein said connecting member further comprises a first rib that is in contact with said first member around said planar-member-side end of said body, and that connects to said second member.
 11. The cleaning tool according to claim 5, wherein said connecting member further comprises a plate member that is connected to said planar member at the opposite side of said adhesive surface, and a second rib that extends from said first edge to said second edge on said plate member, and that has a greater thickness at said second edge side than thickness at said first edge side.
 12. The cleaning tool according to claim 5, wherein a notch is provided on said second member for said first member to move with said body.
 13. The cleaning tool according to claim 5, wherein said connecting member further comprises a plate member that is connected to said planar member at the opposite side of said adhesive surface, and a side wall that extends from said second member along said plate member; such that between said side wall and said plate member at said first edge side, a slit is provided.
 14. The cleaning tool according to claim 5, wherein said connecting member comprises a plurality of said first members and a connecting mechanism that connects said first members to each other.
 15. The cleaning tool according to claim 14, wherein said connecting member comprises a pair of said first members, said connecting mechanism comprising a shaft that passes through a hole provided at said second member to connect said first members to each other; such that a force applied to said body for bringing said planar member in contact with said light receiving surface is transmitted to said planar force via said first member and said second member by said shaft moving to a planar-member-side end of said hole, and a force applied to said body for detaching said planar member from said light receiving surface is transmitted to said planar surface via only said first member, by said shaft moving to body-side of said hole.
 16. The cleaning tool according to claim 14, wherein said first members are connected to the ends of said first edge.
 17. The cleaning tool according to claim 14, wherein said connecting member comprises a pair of said second members that are connected to the ends of said second edge.
 18. A cleaning tool to remove foreign matter from a subject plane to be cleaned, said cleaning tool comprising: a body that extends in a longitudinal direction thereof; a planar member that is provided at the end of said longitudinal direction and that has an adhesive surface to adhere to said foreign matter, a first edge, and a second edge that is at the opposite side of said first edge; and a connecting member that connects said body and said planar member, said connecting member causing one of said first edge or said second edge of said planar member that is in contact with said subject plane to detach from said subject plane prior to the other, by an operation of said body, so that said foreign matter adheres to said adhesive surface. 